Belgium coach Rudi Garcia consoled his team after their 2-1 quarterfinal defeat against Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026. He said his team has nothing to be ashamed of despite the loss and that the players could be proud of their campaign.
Speaking after the match, Garcia said that the team gained valuable insights and experience from their World Cup journey. “We learned through defeat, and I don’t think we have got anything to feel humiliated about,” Garcia said after the match.
Garcia explains Thibaut Courtois’ substitution after injury against Spain
Garcia went on to defend his decision to substitute goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after he suffered an injury in the 71st minute of the game. He was replaced by Senne Lammens.
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“It’s a part of high-level sport. You need to be 100 per cent fit and focused on the game. I did not want to have players who were not totally fit, and that was the case for Thibaut,” Garcia said. “ I did not want his injury to get worse, and this is the reason why I decided to sub him,” he added.
Garcia praised Courtois’ contribution, saying he was brilliant across the board, especially with long balls.
“Unfortunately, the stars were not aligned. We lost our experienced and star goalkeeper and skipper, Kevin de Bruyne. These were not a part of the game plan.” Garcia further pointed to the series of setbacks during the game that threw Belgium’s strategy against Spain into disarray.
Belgian Royal Palace applauds Red Devils despite exit from the World Cup
The Belgian Royal Palace applauded the national football team following their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal loss to Spain, stating the players should be proud of their trip and promising that the future belongs to them. Taking to X, the Belgian Royal Palace’s official account expressed its support for the team following their setback.
“It wasn’t meant to be, but you fought until the end. We are incredibly proud of your magnificent journey. The future belongs to you!” the Royal Palace wrote.
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Will Spain’s 36-game unbeaten run survive the France challenge?
The win stretched Spain’s undefeated streak to 36 games since their loss to Colombia, tying Argentina’s unbeaten streak from 2019 to 2022 and leaving them one game short of Italy’s world-record 37-match unbeaten streak.
Spain will now meet France in a highly exciting semifinal as they carry on with their quest for another World Cup victory.
FAQs
Why was Thibaut Courtois substituted against Spain?
Courtois was taken off in the 71st minute after suffering an injury to avoid aggravating the problem.
What did Rudi Garcia say after Belgium’s World Cup 2026 exit?
Garcia said Belgium had “nothing to feel humiliated about” and urged his players to be proud of their World Cup campaign.